Jefferson u



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1,

J. U. BLWGOD.

GAR BRAKE.

No. 561,502. Patented June 2, 18961 oo O O oo` N 5 N 3 3 W N NB N @Qu *wv' Mg L Q m *S gg 0 o Il l O l, OG

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A TTOHN E YS.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. U. BLWOOD. CAR BRAKE.

Patented June 2, 1896.

7 w/TNESSES.'

f El D A TTOHNE Y S.

ANDREW EGRAHAM. PHOTO-LITNQlWASHIN GTON. DC

(No Model.) Y 3 Sheets-sheet a'. J. U. ELWOOD.

CAR BRAKE.

N0.561,502. PatentedJunez; 1896.

A TTUHNE YS.

AN DREW B,GRAHAM. PHOTOUTMD. wAsMl NGTON. 0 C,

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JEFFERSON U. ELlVOOD, OF MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELEAND DUANE P. SMITH, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,502, dated J une 2,1896. Application filed July Z3, 1895. Serial No. 556,921. (No model.)

T @ZZ whom t nto/y concern:

citknown that I, JEFFERSON U. ELwooD, of McKeesport, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and ImprovedOar-Brake, of which the following is a f ull,clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to certain improvements in carbrakes, andespecially that class of such brakes wherein the brake-shoes are adaptedto be forced into engagement with the track-rails when it is desired tostop the car to which the brake mechanism is applied, a type of thisvariety of brake being shown and claimed in my pending patent 'application, Serial No. 535,12), filed January 16,1895; andthe object of theinvention is to provide a car-brake of this general character of asimple and inexpensive construction and which shall be both strong anddurable and be adapted to quickly stop the car when operated, and thatwithout exerting excessive strain on either the car or track-rails.

This invention consists principally in certain improvements in thearrangement and operation of the brake-shoes, whereby the same arearranged to bear in diagonally opposite directions against thetiaclerails, so that the power required to stop the car is considerablylessened, and liability of breaking the rail-tread or spreading therails, so as to throw the car from the track, is greatly reduced.

The invention also contemplates certain novel features in theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of the various parts of theimproved car-brake, whereby certain important advantages are attainedand the device is made simpler, more easy in action, and isotherwisebetter adapted for use than other similar forms of track-brakeheretofore devised, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

running-gear of a car, showing my improved brake mechanism appliedthereto. Fig. 2 is a plan View of said truck-frame and runninggearprovided with my improved brake mechanism. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectiontaken through the car-platform and one end of the truck-frame, showingcertain features of construction of the brake-staff and its connecteddevices, to be referred to hereinafter; and Fig. 4 is a plan viewshowing the same parts. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken through thebrake-shaft, showing the construction of `the clip for securing theretothe brake-cl'lain.

Fig. (5 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 5, and alsoshowing the construction of said clip. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectionalview showing the friction-disk on the brakeshaft and the lever andconnected devices for engaging said friction-disk, and Fig. 8 is asectional plan View of the same parts. Eig. 9 is an end elevationshowing the -form and arrangement of the brakes carried on. thetruck-frame and supporting the brake-shoe, and Fig. l0 is a sideelevation of the same parts. Fig. ll is a side elevation showing theconstruction of the lever for operating the brake-shoes; and Fig. 12 isan edge elevation of said lever, showing the connection between theupper end thereof and the side rod of the brake-actuating mechanism.Fig. 13 is an under-side view of the slide-block, showing the deviceemployed for securing the removable brake-shoe thereto. Fig. 14 is alongitudinal section showing the clip for connecting the upper end ofthe lever to the side rod of the brake-actuating mechanism, and Fig. l5is a plan view showing the lower member of said clip.

In the views, l represents the truck-frame of the car, wherein aremounted the axles 2, having wheels 3 to run on the tracks 4 in the usualmanner. The side bars of the truckfralne l have, as clearly shown inFig. et, a depending web formed centrallyv on their under sides, and tothe said sidebars are clamped, as seen in said figure, the brackets 5,having lateral flanges projecting from opposite sides of their upperends, through which flanges pass bolts 6, the upper ends of which engageclamping -plates 7, arranged over the upper side of the side bars of thetruck-frame 1, as clearly seen.

The lower parts 8 of the brackets 5 are bent laterally inward and areprovided along their opposite sides with cheeks 9, the adjacent innerfaces of which are dovetailed or undercut, as clearly shown in Figs. 2and 10, to form guides inclined slightly outward away from each othertoward their lower ends, wherein are arranged slide-blocks 10, havingprojecting from their inner sides vertical rack-surfaces 11, adapted tobe engaged by curved rack-surfaces 12, formed on theslower enlarged endsof levers 13, pivoted at 14 to the sides of the respective brackets andhaving at their upper ends rounded or circular enlargements 15, adaptedfor connection to the side rods 16 of the brake-actuating mechanism, aswill be presently explained.

The under side of the slide is provided in its lower part with a recess17, extending through it, thereby forming a foot or base, through thecentral part of which is formed an aperture adapted to :receive theshank of a headed bolt or pin 18 and connecting with alongitudinally-arranged recess or seat 19, formed in the under side ofsaid foot and conforming in shape and adapted to receive an upwardprojection formed on the top of the brake-shoe 20, as seen in Fig. 13,which shows said shoe in plan. Said projection on the shoe 2() comprisesa circular central portion 21, having an undercut slot or recess 22formed in it and opening at one side thereof to receive the head 23 ofthe bolt or pin 18, straight wings 24, extending parallel to each otheron opposite sides of said circular portion 21, and plugs of circularcross-section at the ends of said wings 24 and of greater length thanthe same, being arranged to engage sockets formed at the ends of therecess or seat 19in the slide 10, as seen in Fig. 10. By thisconstruction the head of the pin or bolt 18 is inserted in the recess orslot 22 in the projection on the slide and passed up through theaperture in the foot of the slide, the plugs 25 being engaged with theirsockets at the same time, and the upper end of the bolt 18 is providedwith a pin 26, extending through it, between which and the upper face ofthe foot of the slide 10 are arranged washers 27, so that the shoe isheld firmly against the under side of the slide. In case the shoe 2Owears so as not to properly engage the rail` 4 when the brakes are setit may be removed and wearing-pieces inserted in the plug-sockets at theends of the seat 19, so as to hold said shoe farther down, one or moreof the washers 27 being also omittedin reassemblin g theparts, as willbe readily understood. By this construction the shoes 2O may be kept inuse without replacement until they are almost entirely worn away.

The side rods 16 are arranged in pairs slightly spaced apart, as clearlyseen, and the levers 13 are connected to the said side rods by means ofclips, each consisting of an upper plate 29, held together by means ofbolts between said side rods at each end of each clip, the said plates28 and 29 being longitudinally grooved or recessed on their adjacentfaces to receive said side rods 16.

The lower plate 29 has its central part recessed, as seen at 30, topermit the head 15 on the lever 13 to pass through it between the siderods 16, and in order to hold said lever against disengagement from theclip and side rods the said lower plate 29 is provided on opposite sidesof said recess 30 with longitudinal grooves 31 (seen in Figs. 14 and 15)to receive keys 32, adapted to be held under the side rods 16, whichengage their upper faces, as seen in Fig. 12, and to extend beyond theopposite sides of the aperture 30 into position to engage under theprojecting side portions of the head 15 of said lever 13.

The side rods 16 are connected at their opposite ends by bolts 33,whereon are pivoted links 34, the links 34 at adjacent ends of the `siderods at opposite ends of the truck-frame being connected together bychains 35, passing over sheaves 36, mounted on brackets 37,

secured on the end bars of the truck-frame, as clearly seen in Fig. 1.At each end of the truck-frame 1, and at opposite sides of the same, arearranged springs 38, secured to bolts 39, connected to projections onthe brackets 37, and at their opposite ends said springs are connectedto the ends of the adjacent links 34 at opposite ends of the respectiveside rods and at opposite sides of the car, as clearly seen in Fig. 2.

The links 34 at the ends of the respective side rods opposite to thesprings 38 are connected to chains 41, which extend under the platforms42 of the car, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, and are each connected to theunder side of a Harige 43, formed on a shaft 44, mounted verticallyunder the car-platform, being journaled at its upper end in saidplatform 42, and said shaft 44 is provided below said flange 43 with aspirally-grooved conical drum 46, into the spiral groove of which saidchain 41 is adapted to enter when said shaft is turned to wind up thechain in the usual manner.

The shaft 44 is provided with a gear-wheel 56, fixed to its upper endand meshing with a similar gear 57, (seen in dotted lines in Fig. 4,)fixed to the lower end of a tubular shaft or sleeve 58, below theear-platform 42, and having its upper end extending above thecar-platform and provided with a ratchetvwheel 59, arranged to beengaged by a pawl 60, mounted on the car-platform. At its upper end theshaft 58 has iixed to it a frictionwheel 61, (seen in Figs. 3, 4, 7, and8,) having a grooved periphery adapted to be engaged by a roller 62,carried by a forked arm 63, having a socket at its fork in which theroller is seated. The arm is mounted loosely on the said shaft, embracesthe wheel, and is TCO IIO

adapted to be manipulated by the motorman or driver in applying thetrack-brake. In the socket of the arm 63 and behind the roller G2 isarranged a cam-piece G4, having an inclined face arranged next. to saidroller, whereby when said arm is turned in one direction said rollerwill be wedged firmly between the cam-piece and the periphery of thefriction-disk, so as to cause the tubular shaft 5S to turn with the arm63, while when said arm is turned in the reverse direction said rollerwill run free and the handle and shaft 5S will move free of each other.

Inside the tubular shaft 58 is arranged the main brake-staif 65 of thewheel-brake, provided at its upper end with an operatinghandle 66 andhaving its lower end extending below the car-platform and journaled in abracket 45, secured below the same, and the lower end of the saidbrake-staff 65 is provided with a longitudinal rib or feather arrangedto be engaged in a slot or groove formed in the bore of` a slidingclutch member 48, loosely mounted on the lower end of said brake-staff65 and provided with a toothed under side to engage teeth formed on theupper face of a fixed clutch member 49, carried by the bracket 4.5.

The bracket 45 has an arm 50, to the upper end of which is pivoted alever 51, having one end arranged to engage a groove 52 in `jthe slidingclutch member 43, and the other end of said lever is connected to averticallysliding foot'rod 53, having a threaded lower end screwingthrough a bracket 54, adjustable on said lever 51, as seen in Fig. 3,said foot-rod extending above the platform 42 and having a head to bedepressed by the foot of the driver or motorman, and being normallyupheld by a spring 53, connected to it. In this way it will be seen thatthe brakestaff 65 is normally held against rotation in such a directionas would unwind the chain and release the wheel-brakes, whereby whensaid brakes are applied they may not be released until the foot-rod isdepressed in such a way as to release the sliding clutch member 4S fromthe fixed clutch member 49; but at the same time, the teeth of saidclutch members being formed beveled on one side, the brake-staff may beturned freely to wind up the chain to set the brakes, the clutch membersbeing moved apart sufficiently to permit said teeth to pass over oneanother. Said main brake-staff 65 has at its lower part a clip, (seen inFigs. 3, 5, and 6,) whereby the chain 7l, leading to the ordinarywheelbrakes with which the car will of course be provided is connectedto and adapted to be wound thereon. Said clip consists of a strip ofmetal having its central portion bent to form a loop 67 to encircle thebrake-staff and having its end portions 68 spaced apart and perforatedto receive `between them a centrally-perforated metal disk or washer 69,one edge of which is adapted to engage a kerf or slot formed in thebrake-stad, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, said washer being held inplace and the clip being secured to the brake-staff by means of aneyebolt 70, set through the perforations in the washer and also in theends of the band, the eye of said eyebolt being connected to one end ofthe chain 7l, as clearly seen. In this way it will be seen that when thebrakestaff 65 is turned by means of its handle 6G the wheel-brakes areapplied and when the tubular shaft 5S is turned the track-brakes areapplied. When it is desired to release the track-brakes, the pawl isdisengaged from the metal wheel 59, and when it is desired to releasethe wheel-brakes the foot-rod 53 is depressed, so as to release thebrake-stad and permit the same to be turned backward.

rlhe construction of the brake mechanism as above set forth is extremelysimple and inexpensive and is well adapted for the purpose for which itis intended, since the parts are put under comparatively little strainwhen the track-brakes are applied, whereby the liability of damageresulting therefrom is considerably lessened. Moreover, the brakeshoes20 being arranged to move diagonally down and outward into engagementwith the track-rails the danger of breaking the rails or throwing theear from the track is also lessened. The construction of the spiralgrooved sheave 46 is such that in taking up the slack in the chain atthe beginning of the application of the brakes said chain will berapidly wound up, While as the slack in the chain is wound up and thegreatest force is necessary to set the brakes the leverage of the handleover the drum'will graduallyincrease.

From the above description of my improved brake mechanism it vwill beobvious that considerable modification may be made in the form andarrangement of thevarious parts without material departure from theprinciples and spirit of my invention, and for this reason I do not wishto be understood as limiting myself to the precise construction of thedevice as herein set forth.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. The combination in a brake mechanism, of a side rodconsisting of two members spaced apart and connected to move together, amovable brake-shoe, a lever connected to said brake-shoe and adapted toactuate the same, said lever having a head arranged between the membersof the side rod, and a clip for securing said head against removal,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a brake mechanism, of a side rod, a movablebrake-shoe, a lever connected to the brake-shoe and adapted to actuatethe same, a head for said lever, a clip secured to said side rod andprovided with an opening to receive the head of the lever,

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and means for preventing the removal of said head through said opening,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a brake mechanism, of a side rod, a movablebrake-shoe, a lever connected to the brake-shoe and provided with ahead, a clip secured to said side rod and provided with an opening toreceive the head of the lever, and a key carried by said clip to engagesaid head when inserted through said recess and prevent the removal ofthe same, substantially as set forth.

et. The combination in a brake mechanism, of a side rod, a movablebrake-shoe, a lever connected to the brake-shoe and provided with a headprojecting at opposite sides thereof, a clip secured to said side rodand provided with an opening to receive the head of the lever, and keyscarried by said clip at opposite sides of said opening, to engage theprojecting portions of the head and prevent the removal of the same,substantially as set forth.

5. The combination in a brake mechanism, of a side rod consisting of twomembers spaced apart and connected to move together7 a movablebrake-shoe, a lever connected to the brake-shoe and provided with ahead, a clip secured to the side rod and having an opening to receivethe head of the lever, said head being arranged to pass through saidopening into the space between the members of the side rod, and keyscarried between said clip and side rod on opposite sides of saidopening, adapted to engage the head of the lever when the same is inplace and prevent the removal of the same, substantially as set forth.

(i. A clip, comprising an upper plate and a lower plate adapted to besecured together and having their adjacent faces grooved longitudinally,one of said plates having an opening formed through its central part andbeing provided with recesses at opposite sides of said opening, and keysarranged in said recesses with their inner edges extending beyond theedges of the said opening, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a slide having an opening, a brake-shoe having anundercut slot, a pin having a head to engage said undercut slot in thebrake-shoe and adapted to extend through said opening in the slide, andmeans for securing said pin against removal from said slide when inplace in said opening, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a slide having an opening, and provided with arecess in its face, a brake-shoe having a projection to engage saidrecess in the slide and provided with an undercut slot, a pin having ahead to engage the undercut slot in the brake-shoe and adapted to extendthrough the opening in the slide, and means for securing said pinagainst removal When in place in said opening, substantially as setforth.

9. The combination of a slide having an opening and provided with anelongated recess in its face extending on opposite sides of said openingand provided at the ends with sockets, a brake-shoe having a projectionto enter said recess in the slide and provided at the ends of saidprojection with plugs to enter said sockets and at the central partthereof with an undercut slot, a bolt having a head to engage saidundercut slot and adapted to pass through the opening in the slide, apin passed through the end of said bolt on the opposite side of theslide to the brake-shoe, and a series of washers held on said boltbetween the said pin and the slide, substantially as set forth.

lO. A clip for attachment to a brake-staff or the like, consisting of apiece of metal having its central portion bent to form a loop and havingperforated parallel ends, a washer having a central perforation and heldbetween the ends of said piece of metal, with its edge in position toengage a kerf in the brake-stall", and a bolt passed through theperforations in the piece of metal and washer, substantially as setforth.

1l. A clip for attachment to a brake-staff or the like, consisting of apiece of metal having a bent central part and parallel ends, and awasher secured between said parallel ends with one edge in position toengage a kerf in the brake-staff, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination in a brake mechanism of a truck-frame, brake-shoes,levers to move the same, side rods extending along the sides of thetruck-frame and connected to the levers, chains connectin g the adjacentends of the respective side rods together and extending over sheaves onthe truck-frame, the said sheaves, and means for actuating one of saidside rods, substantially as set forth.

13. In a brake,the combination of a mounted IOO brake-shoe, a leverconnected to operate the same, a side rod composed of two sections andtwo clips arranged one above and one below the said sections, the lowerclip having aslot through which the lever is passed and the upper cliphaving a socket receiving one end of the lever, substantially asdescribed.

la. In a brake,the combination of a mounted brake-shoe, a leverconnected to operate said brake-slice, a side rod and a clip on saidside rod and having a socket receiving one end of the lever,substantially as described.

15. The combination with a car and brake mechanism, of a hollow shaftmounted revolubly on the car, a brake-staff loose within the hollowshaft, two operating-handles respectively connected to the hollow shaftand staff, a drum moving with the hollow shaft, a chain connected to thedrum and to brake mechanism, a second chain connected to the staff andalso to brake mechanism, a rigid clutch member, a movable clutch memberon the staff, and spring controlled actuating mechanism for the movablebrake member, substantially as described.

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1G. Ina Vehcle-brake,tl1ecolnbnatonwith crurned on the bracket andhaving a toothed a truck-frame, of a bracket secured thereto sectorengaging with the rack, substantially and projecting downwardlytherefrom, the as described.

bracket having at one side two parallel cheeks, JEFFERSON U. ELVOOD. 5 aslide reciprocal between said cheeks and lVtnesses:

having a rack-bar thereon, a brake-shoe con- R. W. EKIN,

nected to the slide, and an operating-lever ful- VVM. J. GORMAN.

